F1 Results Today: Verstappen Dominates US Grand Prix as McLaren Scramble to Contain Title Threat
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen delivered yet another masterclass at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), leaving rivals stunned with a dominant performance across the weekend. The Red Bull ace claimed victory in both the Sprint race and the main Grand Prix, reinforcing his resurgence in the 2025 championship battle and sending shockwaves through the McLaren camp.
McLaren may have already sealed the Constructors’ Championship with their triumph in Singapore, but their pursuit of the Drivers’ title now faces serious pressure. Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have been leading contenders all season, yet Verstappen’s unstoppable form in Austin has significantly tightened the gap at the top of the standings.
From the very start of Sunday’s 56-lap US Grand Prix, Verstappen was in complete control. The Dutch driver launched off the line smoothly, defending his lead into Turn 1 and never relinquishing it. Lap after lap, he maintained a comfortable buffer while Norris and Charles Leclerc waged a fierce battle for second place behind him.
The Ferrari driver initially held P2, showing impressive pace throughout the opening stages, but the relentless pressure from Norris finally paid off. On lap 52, the McLaren driver executed a clean overtake, taking second place and securing crucial points for his title challenge. Leclerc was forced to settle for third, marking his sixth podium finish of the season — a solid result but one that still left Ferrari yearning for more.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc’s team-mate and the seven-time world champion, narrowly missed the podium once again. He finished fourth, roughly 28 seconds behind Verstappen, as he continues to chase his first top-three finish since joining Ferrari.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri endured a tough race, unable to match the pace of his rivals. The Australian finished fifth, collecting 10 valuable points but seeing his lead in the standings shrink considerably. With Verstappen’s victory, the points gap at the top has now closed dramatically: the Red Bull driver sits just 26 points behind Norris and 40 points adrift of Piastri, setting up an intense three-way title showdown heading into the final rounds of the season.
Further down the field, George Russell claimed sixth place for Mercedes after a consistent drive, while Yuki Tsunoda secured seventh for Red Bull, continuing his strong run of form in the latter half of the season. Nico Hulkenberg impressed once again for Kick Sauber, crossing the line in eighth, ahead of Oliver Bearman, who delivered another standout performance for Haas to take ninth. Fernando Alonso completed the top ten, adding a single point for Aston Martin.
The race was not without drama, as Carlos Sainz suffered an early retirement on lap 7 after a collision with Kimi Antonelli. The Williams driver attempted a daring move at Turn 15, but contact between the two cars left Sainz with terminal damage. Antonelli, despite sustaining a damaged front wing, managed to recover and finish 13th.
Outside the points, Liam Lawson brought his Racing Bulls car home in 11th, narrowly missing out on a top-ten finish. Lance Stroll followed in 12th, ahead of Antonelli and Alex Albon in 14th. The final classified finishers were Esteban Ocon, Isack Hadjar, Franco Colapinto, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Pierre Gasly, the latter three all finishing one lap down.
Full Race Results: 2025 US Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — Winner
- Lando Norris (McLaren) — +7.959s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) — +15.373s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) — +28.536s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — +29.678s
- George Russell (Mercedes) — +33.456s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) — +52.714s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) — +57.249s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) — +64.722s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) — +70.001s
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) — +1 Lap
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) — +1 Lap
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) — +1 Lap
DNF: Carlos Sainz (Williams)
With just a few rounds remaining, Verstappen’s resurgence has reignited the Drivers’ Championship battle. What once seemed like a McLaren two-horse race is now a three-way fight, with the Red Bull driver rapidly closing in. The stage is set for a thrilling run-in as the 2025 Formula 1 season nears its dramatic conclusion.
